This IT strategy template provides a comprehensive outline to creating an effective IT strategic plan. The template includes sections for defining your business goals and objectives, identifying your IT capabilities, and outlining your IT strategy. The template also includes a set of metrics for measuring the success of your IT strategy.
At its core, an IT strategy plan is a comprehensive blueprint that delineates how an organization will harness technology to achieve its business goals and objectives. It's the bridge connecting the broad scope and applicability of IT with the specific aims of a business.
The importance of an IT strategic plan can't be overstated. Think about the rapidly advancements in technological capability. Regardless of size or industry, every organization must navigate this intricate landscape to remain competitive and relevant. Herein lies the crux of the matter: without a strategic IT roadmap, organizations are akin to ships without compasses, vulnerable to the tumultuous seas of change. Gartner and McKinsey highlighted the risk businesses face when operating without a clearly defined IT direction, emphasizing its critical role in guiding, optimizing, and future-proofing operations.
So, what does an effective IT strategic plan encompass? It's a meticulous document that charts an organization's technological journey over a 3-5 year horizon. Within its pages, one finds the overarching IT and business goals, the strategies devised to realize them, and the measures to ensure alignment with broader business ambitions.
Use this IT strategy template as your master tool in crafting that indispensable IT strategic plan. It's meticulously designed to guide professionals in formulating a visionary yet actionable roadmap. It will help you document and effectively communicate your IT Strategy in a comprehensive, coherent, and business-driven IT Strategic Plan. Create an effective IT Strategic Plan Document following a proven structure and avoiding common mistakes.
By leveraging this template, you're not merely setting up a tech strategy but building a beacon that illuminates your organization's path to success, ensuring every information technology initiative is in sync with your business's key performance indicators. With this comprehensive outline, you're equipping yourself to turn technology from a mere tool into a formidable strategic ally.
This Information Technology (IT) strategy template is a free resource to help you develop a practical IT strategic plan that aligns IT investments with your organization's business goals and objectives. The template outlines the key elements of an IT strategy, such as vision, objectives, initiatives, roles and responsibilities, roadmap, processes, KPIs, and budget. It also includes the steps and guidance for developing an effective IT strategy.
Use this meticulously crafted, business-driven IT Strategy Template to:
- Create a comprehensive IT Strategic Plan Document
- Avoid costly mistakes typically made in typical IT Strategic Planning
- Communicate with key stakeholders
The following is a template to help you develop a technology strategy for your enterprise. This IT Strategic Plan template is intended to be a starting point, not a definitive or exhaustive workbook to create an IT Strategy Plan for the business.
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IT Strategic Planning Template
The New CXO Mindset
How to effectively use Information Technology to gain and maintain a competitive advantage
Sourabh Hajela
Information Technology Strategy Template
Session:
Chair:
Date:
Name: _____________________________________
Business Name: _____________________________________
Why do some organizations create unprecedented shareholder value using IT, while others are lost at sea? It is no secret that IT is a strategic weapon that can be used toward competitive advantage, what is often in doubt is how to make it happen. Can you say with certainty that you are getting the biggest bang for your IT buck? Can you prove it? If gaining sustainable competitive advantage is an imperative for you, read on. This IT Strategy Template will show you how to use IT for shareholder value…and we can prove it!
Executive Summary
Purpose: The executive summary provides a concise and clear overview of the main points of the IT strategy. It's designed to give stakeholders who might not have the time or expertise to delve into the full document a quick understanding of the primary objectives, challenges, and actions defined in the strategy.
Introduction
Purpose: The introduction gives readers context about the creation of the IT strategy, its intended audience, and the scope of its content. It also sets the stage for why the strategy is essential and how it fits into the organization's goals.
Business Context & Strategic Alignment
Purpose: This section underscores the connection between the company's overarching goals and the IT initiatives. It clarifies that the IT strategy isn’t an isolated set of objectives but rather a vital component in realizing the broader organizational vision.
Baseline
Q1. What are your top 5 business “pain” points?
These are things that you wish you had or had a solution for. Please put the first 5 things that come to mind.
Business “pain” points:
- ______________________
- ______________________
- ______________________
- ______________________
- ______________________
Q2. What are your top 5 business “objectives”?
For instance, the following are some common reasons that drive business strategy:
- Business objectives – forward action: Things that you must do to succeed
- Business objectives – risk mitigation: Things you must avoid to succeed
- Business objectives – overcoming roadblocks: Thing you must overcome to succeed
- Business objectives – other?
These can be short term or long term. They can be driven by revenue, cost, time to market, competitive advantage, risk or some other reason.
Business Objectives (Long Term/Short Term):
-
- LT/ST_________________
- LT/ST_________________
- LT/ST_________________
- LT/ST_________________
- LT/ST_________________
Q3. How do you plan to achieve these objectives?
For instance:
- If revenue increase is an objective, then enhancing the scope and reach of your distribution channel is an imperative. This can be achieved by going direct to customer or getting more distributors for your product.
- If reducing cost is an objective, then sending electronic statements can reduce printing costs
- If margins is the issue then selling direct can reduce broker/distributor commissions
| Opportunity | Imperative | |
| Revenue | ||
| Cost | ||
| Risk | ||
| Customer Satisfaction/Retention | ||
| Other |
Q4. What is in the way of achieving your imperatives?
For instance:
- If revenue increase is an objective, then enhancing the scope and reach of your distribution channel is an imperative. This can be achieved by going direct to customer or getting more distributors for your product. Complication: you do not have the money to invest
- If reducing cost is an objective, then sending electronic statements can reduce printing costs. Complication: you do not have the technology staff to pull this off
- If margin is the issue then selling direct can reduce broker/distributor commissions. Complication: you do not have the technology to pull this off or this will offend your current distributors who might leave.
| Imperative | Complication/Implication | |
| Revenue | ||
| Cost | ||
| Risk | ||
| Customer Satisfaction/Retention | ||
| Other |
Q5. What will we gain by leveraging IT capability across the business?
| Opportunity | Rationale | |
| Sales and Marketing | ||
| Manufacturing and Operations | ||
| Procurement | ||
| After Sales Service |
Business Analysis
Q6. Who is your “customer”?
- What do you know about their demographics?
- What do you know about their psychographics i.e. behavior and preferences?
- How do you know your customer demographics and psychographics?
Customer Demographic:
Customer Behavior and Preferences:
Q7. What is our current business model?
Q8. What are the strengths/weaknesses/gaps in this business model?
Q9. What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing your business?
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Opportunities | Threats |
Q10. What is each product’s profitability by market and channel?
| Market | Customer | Product | Purpose | |
| Instructions | “S”, “M”, and/or “L” | “C”, “B”, and/or “P” | List applicable products | “S”, “B”, and/or “V” |
| Direct | ||||
| Sales Force | ||||
| Brokers/Dealers | ||||
| Phone | ||||
| Wireless (Phone) | ||||
| Wireless (Palm/Other) |
Q11. What are some of the key areas in which your competitors are better than you? Is this “gap” of importance to our customer?
| Gap | Rationale | |
| Sales and Marketing | ||
| Manufacturing and Operations | ||
| Procurement | ||
| After Sales Service |
IT Strategy Analysis
Q12. What is in the way of achieving your business imperatives?
For instance:
- If revenue increase is an objective, then getting more enhancing the scope and reach of your distribution channel is an imperative. This can be achieved by going direct to customer or getting more distributors for your product. Complication: you do not have the money to invest
- If reducing cost is an objective, then sending electronic statements can reduce printing costs. Complication: you do not have the technology staff to pull this off
- If margin is the issue then selling direct can reduce broker/distributor commissions. Complication: you do not have the technology to pull this off or this will offend your current distributors who might leave.
| Imperative | Complication/Implication | |
| Revenue | People:Process:Technology:Other: | |
| Cost | People:Process:Technology:Other: | |
| Risk | People:Process:Technology:Other: | |
| Customer Satisfaction/Retention | People:Process:Technology:Other: | |
| Other | People:Process:Technology:Other: |
Q13. Can IT help achieve your business imperatives?
| Complication/Implication | Solution | |
| Revenue | Application:Information:Infrastructure: | |
| Cost | Application:Information:Infrastructure: | |
| Risk | Application:Information:Infrastructure: | |
| Customer Satisfaction/Retention | Application:Information:Infrastructure: | |
| Other | Application:Information:Infrastructure: |
Q14. What will we gain by leveraging IT capability (selling, manufacturing, buying or servicing) across the business?
| Opportunity | Rationale | |
| Sales and Marketing(Hint: Usually the opportunities are on the revenue and some on cost side) | ||
| Manufacturing and Operations(Hint: Usually the opportunities are on the cost side) | ||
| Procurement(Hint: Usually the opportunities are on the cost side) | ||
| After Sales Service(Hint: Usually the opportunities are on the cost and customer retention side) |
Environment Trend Analysis
Q15. Top 5 business trends? Which of these will affect you? How?
| No. | Trend | Impact | Rationale |
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 |
Q16. Top 5 technology trends? Which of these will affect you? How?
| No. | Trend | Impact | Rationale |
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 |
Trend analysis leads to the creation of business impact statement and risk mitigation strategy.
Current IT Capability Analysis/Current State Assessment
Purpose: This section offers an objective evaluation of the organization's present IT landscape, including its strengths and potential areas for improvement. It serves as the baseline from which future initiatives and improvements will be launched.
Q17. How much do you spend on it? (Is it the largest single investment?)
1. Where do you spend that money? (categorize that spend)
2. Why? (How much have you earned from it?
Q18. What is your technology ROI?
Q19. Does your company have a plan for technology?
Q20. Does your business plan include a technology plan?
Q21. Where is IT being used across your business?
| IT Capability | Rationale | |
| Sales and Marketing(Hint: Usually the opportunities are on the revenue and some on cost side) | Application:Information:Infrastructure: | |
| Manufacturing and Operations(Hint: Usually the opportunities are on the cost side) | Application:Information:Infrastructure: | |
| Procurement(Hint: Usually the opportunities are on the cost side) | Application:Information:Infrastructure: | |
| After Sales Service(Hint: Usually the opportunities are on the cost and customer retention side) | Application:Information:Infrastructure: |
IT Vision & Principles
Purpose: What you aim to achieve with IT in the long term. Set of beliefs or values to guide IT decision-making.
IT Objectives & Goals
Purpose: Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives to align IT initiatives with business goals.
IT SWOT Analysis
- Strengths: IT capabilities that provide a competitive advantage.
- Weaknesses: IT areas that need improvement.
- Opportunities: External factors that the IT department can capitalize on.
- Threats: External factors that could harm IT operations.
Future State Vision
Purpose: This section articulates the aspirational future of the organization's IT environment, highlighting the advancements and improvements aimed for. It provides a clear target for the organization and helps align efforts toward achieving a cohesive end state.
Gap Analysis
Purpose: This section aims to identify, analyze, and quantify the differences between the present IT conditions and the envisioned future. It's the foundation upon which the actionable road map of the IT strategy is built.
Initiatives and Projects
Overview: This section will detail the specific IT projects or initiatives that are planned or proposed to address the identified gaps (from the Gap Analysis) and to achieve the outlined strategic objectives. Each initiative should have a clear scope, objective, timeline, budget, and designated responsibilities.
Implementation & Execution Plan
Purpose: To provide a structured, chronological plan of activities that will be undertaken to achieve the IT strategy's objectives. This plan ensures that there's clarity on what needs to be done, by whom, and by when.
Technology Initiatives & Roadmap
Purpose: To present a clear set of technology initiatives that bridge the gap between the current and desired future. The roadmap should offer a chronological blueprint of actionable steps, milestones, and deliverables.
Budget & Resources
Purpose: To provide a clear picture of the monetary and human resources required for the execution, maintenance, and support of the technology initiatives. This ensures the organization’s readiness to commit necessary resources, avoiding potential roadblocks or resource constraints.
Performance Metrics & KPIs
Purpose: To define clear, measurable indicators of success for the IT strategy. This allows for objective progress tracking, assessment of various initiatives' impact, and adjustments based on empirical data.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Purpose: To outline a systematic approach to keeping all stakeholders informed, involved, and aligned with the IT strategy. Engaging stakeholders ensures the strategy is accepted, understood, and supported, paving the way for smoother implementation and adoption.
IT Governance & Management
Purpose: To establish a clear framework for decision-making processes, responsibilities, and controls in the IT landscape, ensuring alignment with business objectives, responsible use of resources, and risk management.
Risk Management
Purpose: To methodically address the IT-related risks that could impact the organization's ability to achieve its objectives. This involves identifying potential risks, assessing their likelihood and impact, and putting measures in place to manage them.
Conclusion & Next Steps
The Conclusion & Next Steps section succinctly summarizes the IT strategy document and outlines immediate actions and directions. It reaffirms the document's significance and motivates stakeholders to move from planning to action.
Review and Update Mechanism
Overview: This section will establish the mechanisms, timelines, and criteria for IT strategy review and update. It provides guidelines on how and when to reassess the strategy to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness.
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